By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh Council on Monday rejected the Centre’s plan to build 6 new canals on the Indus River in a growing political fissure and conflicted stances, the coalition partner of the ruling Pakistani government.

It warned that Sindh would not accept any new canal project in the Indus River system, local media reported.

The Sindh chapter of the PPP demanded that the federal government withdraw the plan and convene a meeting of the Council of Common Interests to address the province’s concerns.

The ruling party in the provincein a council meeting warned that Sindh would not accept any new canal project under the Indus River System, the leading Pakistani newspaper, media reported.

The PPP’s Sindh Council meeting was held at the Chief Minister House and chaired by the party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Bilawal reiterated the PPP’s stance against any new canal project on the Indus River.

He expressed support for resolutions passed by the PPP’s Sindh Council opposing the federal government’s proposed canals.

Bilawal emphasized that the party had always raised its voice against the projects that threatened Sindh’s water rights, local media reported.

Save Indus River Movement slammed Zardari for allegedly approving the canal projects, and rejected Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s speech in a joint session of parliament on the construction of 6 new canals.

The SIRM leaders at a press conference later demanded that the PPP quit the federal government.

Protests erupted in the Sindh province of Pakistan against the construction of canals on the River Indus, with echoed demands to “let the water flow.”

Protests and rallies taken out across the province saw wider participation of the people, who called for an end to the project of building six more canals on the river, local media reported.

Pakistan has witnessed a series of protests with citizens raising their voices against what they describe as “anti-people policies” and “violation” of Sindh rights.